Decision on suspended Perth and Kinross councillors due on Monday

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Two Perth and Kinross councillors who defied health chiefs’ move to hold a board meeting away from the public eye will find out on Monday if they are to lose their seats on it.

Councillors Colin Stewart and Callum Purves have already been suspended from the council’s ruling Tory-led administration after complaints were raised about the pair attempting to stop last month’s Integrated Joint Board (IJB) meeting being held in private.

The IJB had assembled to discuss an independent inquiry into mental health provision across Tayside, but the two Tories protested after representatives of local groups were ordered out of the room which led to arguments and the meeting eventually being aborted.

Cllr Colin Stewart (Strathmore)

Now in addition to being suspended for their actions that day, the pair face potentially being voted off the IJB as well as a number of local authority committees when their party colleagues seek to put forward substitutes at a meeting of the full council on Monday.

The full agenda for Monday’s meeting had not been published by the time the PA went to press yesterday but it was expected papers proposing to change the political make-up of the IJB and those committees the pair currently sit on would be available online by the end of the day.

Cllr Callum Purves (Kinross-shire)

Elsewhere yesterday, a Kinross-shire group wrote directly to PKC’s Tory group leader Murray Lyle criticising his decision to suspend the pair.

The Kinross-shire Civic Trust praised Cllr Purves, describing him as a “personable, committed and extremely able representative”.

The letter added: “In regard to the current events surrounding the IJB, we consider that councillors Purves and Stewart were continuing this very commendable approach to representing the best interests of those they are elected to serve.

Perth and Kinross Council headquarters

“In this particular case they have applied this same commitment to members of the public who were present to seek answers to very legitimate concerns.

“It is good to see that these young councillors are willing to stand up for transparency and democracy and not meekly submit to those who may feel threatened by their admirable commitment.

“It is most troubling that you have suspended these councillors without even giving them the opportunity to know the detail of the complaints made against them.”